By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
GROSSE POINTE WOODS—The Allegan boys tennis team traveled nearly three hours to Gross Pointe Woods for the University Liggett Quad on Saturday, Sept 9.
The Tigers made the trip for one primary reason: to test themselves against the defending Division 4 state champion Liggett squad.
Allegan—ranked fifth in D4—passed that test with flying colors, as the Tigers beat third-ranked Liggett 6-2.
“We rose to the occasion and never faltered,” Allegan coach Damien Arthur said. “We gained some very valuable experience by traveling across the state, and now it’s time to translate that to the rest of the regular season.”
The Tigers dropped their other two matches by identical 7-1 scores to Mattawan (ranked third in D2) and Rochester (ranked 10th in D1).
In the Liggett match, No. 2 Gavin Clark (6-1, 6-0) and No. 4 Ezra Smith (7-6 (4), 6-4) each won singles matches. Allegan swept the doubles flights: No. 1 Jackson Morrie/Cole Muenzer won 6-1, 6-2; No. 2 Nate Kuebler/Adam Mozery won 6-3, 5-7, 10-8; No. 3 Evan Ruga/Carson Williams won 6-1, 6-4; and No. 4 Joe Sosnowski/Ely Barnhart won 6-0, 3-6, 10-3.
Clark also won his matches against Mattawan (6-0, 6-0) and Rochester (6-1, 6-0).